Hard Candy (2005) User Reviews

Great acting and film making!

[Luckie Starr · 8/10 · 12 May 2005]

I was lucky enough to be in one of the first test audiences for this film in Los Angeles. Knowing nothing about the film except that it's being described as suspense/horror, and stars Patrick Wilson and a 14 year old girl, I went in expecting another bad to mediocre slash film. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Hard Candy is an intense psychological drama, with incredible performances by both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson. The two actors are practically the only two people with lines in the film, aside from some brief appearances by Sandra Oh and Jennifer Holmes. Thusfar I have only seen Wilson in The Alamo and Phantom of the Opera, but I was blown away with how he handled this performance. The slow, suspenseful film is set mainly in the Los Angeles home of photographer Jeff, a 32 year old man whom Hayley, a mature 14 year old girl who met him online, suspects to be a pedophile. The pacing was steady, and phenomenal - after a brief exposition we get into the real suspense about 20 minutes into the film, and it doesn't let up from there. The cinematography and camera work went excellently with the film. Rather than being extremely gory, the adult themes of the film lead to a more psychological creepiness. There are also questions that remain unanswered until the end of the film, when everything is wrapped up nicely - leaving you puzzled to the true identities and motives of the characters throughout most of the duration.

Horror films are not my cup of tea, but psychological drama is. An early fall release date has been rumored, and I can only hope this movie doesn't get lost in the shuffle between summer blockbusters and Oscar season. I also hope Lion's Gate markets this film for what it is, and doesn't try to aim for fans of slash, or a teen crowd.

Wow

[johno-21 · 8/10 · 31 January 2006]

I saw this at a late night screening at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and of the 35 films I saw there I would rank this #4. for about the first 10 minutes I didn't know if I was going to like it or where it was going to go but man once this roller-coaster starts moving it's a psychological thriller. Great stylized look to this film too. The acting and story is intense and you can't avert your eyes from the screen even though there are times where you think you might have to. I like movies that have the feel of a stage play and the emotional volleyball between the two principal actors is amazing. A little far-fetched but so what. This is a good movie. I give it a 8.5 out of a possible 10 and would recommend this film.

Not the easiest film to watch...

[TheMovieMark · 6/10 · 28 April 2006]

Well. That was disturbing. Though it is not one to recommend for "Family Night," Hard Candy offers an intriguing one-time viewing thanks to the effectiveness of its two-man show approach. Let's make that a one-man, one-girl show. I don't need a rash of emails reminding me of my chauvinism.

What the filmmakers have done is said, "Hey, Patrick Wilson! Ellen Page! We're placing the two of you in a restricted space and putting the entire movie on your shoulders. Best of luck!" Granted, I'm paraphrasing, but this is no exaggeration. There are a total of five people in the movie, and only Wilson and Page are given more than five minutes of screen time. Given this challenge, the two thespians more than hold their own.

I don't know if Wilson should take this as a compliment, but he's very convincing as a dangerously innocent-seeming pedophile. What makes him so creepy is his charm. He's a smooth, suave sexual predator. Most young girls are smart enough to do wind sprints the moment they see a dirty, unkempt man who looks to be carrying more diseases than Paris Hilton.

But Wilson is a good-looking, successful photographer. He can't be bad, right? "You look older than you are, and you certainly act older than you are," he tells Hayley, perfectly manipulating her young, fragile emotions. And hey, he can't be dangerous. After all, he obviously has the most innocent of intentions! Why else would he reassure her that he's aware of the legal boundaries? She's puddy in his hands.

This all starts quietly enough, but once they get to his house gears are shifted and everything goes haywire. That's all I'm revealing regarding the story, but I do have to give kudos to Ms. Page who turns in an impressive performance. I did feel she was a bit too precocious and world-wise at times, but she still does a great job showcasing a wide range of emotions of this potential young victim.

Despite the interesting concept of the two-person show, it clearly has its limitations. At 103 minutes this is just way too long. After a while it becomes too obvious that certain scenes and lines of dialogue are, like most songs on recent Rolling Stones albums, inserted for no other reason than to serve as filler. The worst example being a scene involving Sandra Oh's neighbor character. The only purpose it serves is to deliver a little faux drama. That subplot is dropped faster than Britney Spears' baby, never to be heard from again.

Hard Candy refuses to send you prancing home with a smile on your face or a song in your heart, but if nothing else it serves as a strong warning that you should probably pay close attention to who your kids are communicating with online. At least warn them that sometimes the person they least suspect could be the one to be most wary of.

A quick word of warning to all you guys: there is one particular scene where what we perceive is happening will absolutely make you squirm in your seat. You'll most likely watch it through squinted eyes. I haven't felt that uncomfortable at the theater since the My Own Private Idaho fiasco. I suggest you be prepared.

worth seeing

[akillmzeier · 7/10 · 12 October 2005]

I just screened this film at LGF last night. I was quite intrigued for the first forty minutes. Then it all kind of fell apart for me. In it's best moments this film explores the complexities of vengeance and psychology. It tries to be clever by pulling a role reversal -- but this eventually wears thin and the dialog becomes didactic and contrived. I still think it is worth seeing for the strength of the leads alone. Patrick Wilson does a fine job as a "suspected" pedophile. He elicits both sympathy and disgust. Ellen Page as the young girl is absolutely fantastic. Her performance is brilliant and even frightening at times. She's good even when the script can't match her talent. I look forward to seeing her in many films to come. Finally a young actress who is more than just a pretty face -- I'm so tired of the Natalie Portmans, the Hillary Duffs, and the Jessica Albas of the world. Good luck with your career Ms. Page.

All in all, Hard Candy is worth seeing. Maybe I'm just a sucker for movies with tiny casts and realtime pacing. But there are some genuinely suspenseful moments in the film, although in the hands of lesser actors these scenes would disintegrate. And though I was annoyed by the contrivances and implausibilities of the script, I found myself the next day thinking about some of the issues raised therein.

At times Hard Candy reminded me of Polanski's Death and the Maiden, though H.C. is nowhere near as good. Ellen Page's Haley character is similar to Sigourney Weaver's character in the Polanski film. Both women are terrifying through the cold precision of their revenge. The problem with the Haley character is that she would have to be supernatural to accomplish the things she does in this film. And of course if she was supernatural, we'd have a completely different film on our hands -- High Plains Drifter.

Excellent movie, but be aware it may be disturbing by the subject of it.

[ekiza23 · 10/10 · 18 October 2005]

This is a film about a girl of 14 years old and a 32 years old guy. It is a movie about Hayley (more than excellent Ellen Page) and Jeff, about pedophilia and about how a pedophile must feel. Or maybe it is only a history of vengeance. You won't know until the end of the film. It sure is a difficult subject for a movie, but the script is excellently profiled in the psychological horror and does not turn to be obscene or anything than can visually or verbally hurt the sensibility of anyone. It is more like disturbing to hear a teenage girl speak how she does, and it is fascinating how your feelings will go from one character to the other during the movie until you realize that no matter what the end is, everyone is guilty of something and it is not to us, humans, to decide what bad actions can be justified by other bad actions.

Try on it, and be open-minded.

Sorry about any orthographic mistake, I'm not used to English writing.

Hard Candy is an Edge-of-Your-Seat Must!

[kpeterson32-1 · 26 March 2005]

Any fan of Patrick Wilson simply MUST see the film Hard Candy. And I'm not talking about those of you that are fans of his portrayal of Raoul in the Phantom of the Opera. I'm talking to the true fans out there that have seen and loved Angels in America, the Alamo, etc, and can appreciate the diversity and depth he displays with each role.

This film is a very difficult one. I won't lie. You all know what the basic story is about, and it's hard to imagine how any actor that has barely a foot in the door of Hollywood would choose a film that is so controversial, and unnerving. The fact is that Hard Candy is well-written, and amazingly acted. The story isn't that difficult to believe, if you are willing to accept that a 14 year old girl can be so diabolical. Hayley, played to perfection by newcomer Ellen Page, is not an ordinary teenager, and she is anything but a victim in this film.

Without giving away anything important to the story, I will simply say that this disturbing nature of this film is purely psychological. You see nothing "inappropriate", and the conversations between Jeff and Hayley stay within the realm of decent.

The bottom line is that Hard Candy is a terrific film, that will make you think, and wonder, and ponder, and question, and discuss long after you leave the theater. I saw it in Park City two months ago, and I'm still questioning the outcome. To me, that is the mark of an exceptional film.

Wild, compelling, but lacks a clear point and wholly implausible

[big_novak · 7/10 · 18 April 2006]

Hard Candy is a graphic and gripping film without being overly visceral or inflammatory... well maybe just a little. It forces the audience to examine the gray area between right and wrong, whether or not pedophiles can ever truly be "rehabilitated" and what society should do when the justice system becomes ineffective in dealing with sick people who hurt others, especially children.

A wild ride...

The viewer is constantly tossed back and forth the whole film, wondering who is in the "right..." the pedophile or his antagonist. Torture, graphic language, (implied) gore and heart-felt stories of abuse, love lost and sorrow compel the viewer to wonder who is lying, who is committing the crime, and how either character will make it out of the house alive. It's odd to occasionally side with Jeff the pedophile, but as all sociopaths do, he rationalizes his behavior very well, spins intriguing, almost plausible lies and causes you to wonder how easily a single adult male who legitimately photographs under-age girls for a living could be wrongfully accused of abuse. Hayley's character is brilliant (and brilliantly acted by Ellen Page) and in her own way, another sociopath. It's perhaps the first case I've ever seen on film of "the blind torturing the blind."

What I do like about the film: It is beautifully shot, with vivid colors and tastefully-used camera techniques that highlight the tension and ambiguity of the story. The film avoids being overtly graphic, considering the subject matter covered includes pedophilia, child abuse, child porn, torture and murder. The story itself is not new (the hunter becoming the hunted), but it is presented in a new way that forces the audience into uncomfortable places and (hopefully) constructive discourse on a pressing social issue. Ellen Page is amazing. Watch for her in the future...

What I don't like about the film: Overall, it asks quite a lot of the audience in the sense of suspending one's disbelief. As mentioned, the Hayley character is brilliant, but I found it nearly impossible that a (supposed) 14 year old girl - savant or not - could have created such a complicated and nefarious plan to bring Jeff to "justice." Also, even though the film goes to strange lengths to show Hayley's extremely fit (muscular and cut) body, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for her to move the unconscious body of a full-grown, 180 pound man, let alone lift him onto a chair or table as she somehow manages to do. Finally, I don't like the sociological stance the film seems to take, that society creates pedophiles. Most of that conjecture comes from learning Jeff's background through his own words (are we supposed to believe a single word from him?) and from info Hayley has gathered on her own, but it creates several disturbing questions: Are pedophiles born or raised? Can being lonely, heartbroken and unable to find love drive a normal human being to depraved, horrific and prurient lows, or were they inherently flawed to begin with? When are people no longer responsible for their actions (when does an illness take over for personal responsibility), and what can ultimately be done to "rehabilitate" repeat child molesters? Mostly, I suppose I find it disturbing to humanize pedophiles as I personally feel they are not human.

Overall, I liked the film. It was quick. Hayley's dialogue is biting and acerbic, often drawing an uncomfortable laugh from the audience in the midst of a melee of violence and anger. Jeff is a (nearly) likable villain, though the lines between villain and hero become increasingly blurred the farther we go down the rabbit hole. There are moments of raw anger, vengeance and pity. The characters are well-drawn and acted, and you genuinely feel for both of them at different times. When Hayley takes a blow to the stomach, you feel it. When Jeff struggles to break free from his ropes, you squirm with him. The social commentary that the film *should* create is vital to the future of our nation, especially as more and more repeat child molesters are being caught and hundreds of thousands of their victims silently suffer, or disappear altogether, each year.

Unfortunately, Hard Candy is heavy-handed and manipulative. It pulls every cinemagraphic/dramatic trick known to man to force the audience down one track, then another, leaving the viewer to feel disoriented and themselves molested (possibly intentionally?). I nearly expected a never-before-seen cat to jump out of the darkness in one scene just to scare the audience. The story is altogether implausible, no matter how much we would like it to be. You'd like to leave the theater thinking, "Wow, I'm glad the bad guy got what he deserved!" but you know he didn't, as this is America and the legal system is unable to correctly handle sociopathic pedophiles. Still, go see it. It's a wild, phrenetic ride well worth the ticket price. Think about the characters, their actions and motivations and form your own opinions. Then - most importantly - talk about them.

Never underestimate Music video /commercial filmmakers.

[HiddenVoice · 8/10 · 13 April 2006]

This sure is some thriller.Darn those MTV filmmakers,when they really use their heads they show some of their true visual talents.Like the debut made by Mark Romanek in One Hour Photo, David Slade really excels as a director who keeps things extremely intense and gripping with a touch of shocking elements and pure disturbance due to its story.

A film about a pedophile who invites a 14 year old girl into his house only to lead a disturbing game of cat and mouse with shocking consequences and shocking twists.

Along with the superb debut and impressive writing ,it is actually the young Ellen Page who carries the film.You won't find her not mentioned in any review to this film.Hers is a performance worth mentioning,because she takes a huge shift towards her character. Wilson,on the other hand does an adequate job.

A surprisingly effective thriller and of course disturbing in the most shocking sense of way.This is sure one psychological thriller you ought to check out.

Effectively disturbing but seriously flawed...

[MrGKB · 6/10 · 22 November 2008]

..."Hard Candy" goes out of its way to polarize audience reaction to its role-reversal tale of vigilante "justice," forcing the viewer to side with one psychopath or another, a decidedly unsettling experience. Judging by the comments here on the IMDb, it succeeded, even if its box office appeal was limited. This first feature from the creative team that went on to bring us "30 Days of Night" (another strikingly flawed film) relies on a manipulative script that raises more questions than it answers. The two leads, Ellen "Juno" Page and Patrick "Lakeview Terrace" Wilson, do what they can (which is happily a great deal) with their wildly improbable roles, but it's just not enough to salvage anything beyond water-cooler controversy.

Basically, the concept is that a supposedly vulnerable, naive young girl turns the tables on a would-be sexual predator, revealing herself to be the more monstrous of the two. If there weren't so many "oh, c'mons" and "hey, wait a minutes," this time-worn twist might have worked, but subtlety and credibility are not strong suits of Brian Nelson's pulpy screenplay. Page's vengeful angel fails to convince, while Wilson's captured demon equally fails to behave believably in the film's lurid dénouement. "Hard Candy" falters badly under the weight of its own pretensions. It's worth a watch for conversation generation, but don't expect any earthshaking revelations of the human condition. And don't think too hard about how a wisp of a teenage girl could manhandle an unconscious adult male into a standing position on a kitchen chair without strangling him in the process.

Sensationalistic and ultimately disappointing, "Hard Candy" (which interestingly never explains its own title, though the Net-savvy will understand) pales compared to other Little Red Ridinghood tales like the infinitely superior "Freeway."

"Hard Candy" is a powerful and disturbing look at people we meet on the Internet.

[ScottDMenzel · 9/10 · 9 April 2006]

"Hard Candy" is about a teenage girl named Hayley (Ellen Page) who likes to surf the web and explore internet dating like most normal teenagers. The film opens up with an instant message chat between Hayley and a much older guy named Jeff (Patrick Wilson). Jeff and Hayley plan to meet up later that day, where their meeting turns into an unexpected series of events. A very intense psychological drama ensues…

I just got back from an advanced screening of "Hard Candy" at the Philadelphia Film Festival. And let me be the first to say, this movie was remarkable. The idea behind this film is so powerful and disturbing at the same time. This movie focuses on two people, Hayley who is a 14 year old girl and a 30 something pedophile named Jeff. A movie's subject matter is something that is a serious issue in the world and I think this movie takes the idea of it to a new and unique level.

During this film, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. You watch with amazement as this little teenage girl who seems so innocent really controls the entire situation. She is smart and has planned everything and anything and the film flows together so nicely. Even though Hayley isn't an overly likable character, I was cheering her on throughout the whole film. She was such an intelligent and wicked character who seemed to be just sickened by pedophiles.

Another thing which was very interesting about this film was that it actually relied more on the facial expressions and dialog then on actual images. There is one part in the film which is extremely disturbing and is something I never seen in a film before. The scene involves Hayley doing an operation to say it in an inexplicit way. During that scene, we never see what's happening but it was spine tingling just seeing the emotions and listening to the dialog of the characters. A powerful scene which was so intense and disturbing I may never forget it.

Lastly, I liked how even though the film was a very powerful drama, the script had some light humor in it as well. The line about Roman Polanski was a classic as well as the whole "I'm an honor roll student" line. The film is so serious at times, it was nice to get a chuckle here and there to allow audiences to take a breather from being pinned to their seats with suspense.

Like I previously stated there are only two real characters in this movie those being Hayley and Jeff. Ellen Page does an incredible job and delivers a mind-blowing performance. Her character is both demented and likable. Patrick Wilson was great as well. He gave a very interesting and powerful performance as a pedophile who didn't want to admit he had a problem. His emotions during this film were incredible and extremely realistic.

"Hard Candy" was directed by first time filmmaker David Slade. I feel this is a breathtaking and powerful first film about an uneasy subject matter that so few talk about. His unique craft of capturing not only the characters emotions and anger but also the unique camera angles is remarkable. Also the unique scenes of darkness and colors were brilliant. I like the fact that the director didn't make the characters out to be fictional characters but someone who we can meet on a daily basis.

The screenplay was written by Brian Nelson who is also a first time screenwriter for a feature film. I normally don't review how I feel about the screenplay but this one was so unique and daring that I feel I have to. The way the script develops the characters is amazing and how the film actually has a real ending instead of one of those cop-out choose your own ending films that so many people are using nowadays. What the film does is leaves everything at the end open to discussion. Why did Hayley do what she did? Who is Hayley really and so forth. It's an incredible screenplay that Mr. Nelson should be extremely proud of.

Bottom Line: "Hard Candy" was such an amazing film with powerful, intense scenes and great acting. The script is extremely fresh and takes the idea of a pedophile film to a new level. This film allows its audience to think and also be shocked by what's going on during the film. It's not a movie for those who like light-hearted films or films that are completely resolved in the end. Hard Candy is really one of those mind f*ck films that when you leave the theater you just want to talk about what just happened. It's a remarkable film that will stay with me for many weeks to come.

MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Hard Candy" is a 9/10. A powerful yet disturbing film that touches on a subject matter that is constantly being ignored in our world but be warned this film is definitely not for the weak hearted crowd.

Tasteless, pointless; nothing more than an overly dramatic revenge flick...

[varundelpiero · 6/10 · 3 December 2008]

At the centre of HARD CANDY (no pun intended) is the burning question: Whose side are you on? The sick, manipulative, and twisted pedophile, or the sadistic, unnecessarily cruel, and psychotic sociopath? Either way, you, the viewer, lose, so what's the point, right? I mean, any film that almost compels the neutral viewer to support the pedophile is just tasteless and baseless. This film is completely biased, and is essentially a sadistic revenge flick catered only to those who have been affected adversely by pedophiles. I will not try to spoil the ending, because, let's face it, there is nothing to spoil. The movie is predictable and cheesy and the ending is of no consequence.

Then there's this: if viewers are supposed to believe that a petite fourteen year old girl is capable of such things, then at the very least, she should have the power to consent to sexual intercourse, right? I'm not taking sides or suggesting anything of an immoral or grotesque nature, but the movie is quite contradictory in the sense that a mere fourteen year old is capable of devising and implementing such horrific and well-thought plans, which makes her essentially seem as an adult, and which ruins the whole message the movie was supposed to convey.

Perhaps David Slade should stick to five-minute music videos, as a full length feature is well beyond his capacity.

And, for the record, what was the point of Sandra Oh? This has to be one of the more pointless and awkward cameos I have ever seen. And I actually admire Sandra Oh.

There are a few good things though: the story actually plays out properly (in a cinematic/screenplay sense only, though it gets weaker and less watchable as it progresses), the character interaction is absorbing, and the acting is top-notch (Patrick Wilson is awesome in this film; Ellen Page is quite annoying and sickening but does her job well). But really, what was the point? There were so many questions left unanswered that there was no genuine catharsis. The so-called ending is cheap and rather blunt and purposeless.

I think 4/10 is a generous score. This film gets 2 stars (out of 4; also generous). Even if I made a Top 1000, this film would not come close to making the cut. Recommended only for viewers who have been affected by pedophiles. Everyone else will feel robbed of their time. I was expecting much better seeing as a trustworthy source recommended this; I will now take future recommendations from this source with a pinch of salt.

David Slade, you suck. This movie sucked. I had planned to watch your latest feature, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, but I may just make a pass. Go back to music videos. I actually enjoyed STP's 'Sour Girl' video...

Amazing performances

[Luminelle212 · 8/10 · 20 April 2006]

I saw Hard Candy at the Angelika, in Tribeca New York and never have I been so shocked, surprised and utterly impressed with an acting performance. The storyline, though somewhat confusing was overpowered by the Oscar-winning performance given by Ellen Page, 14-year old Hayley. Though it could have wrapped up a little sooner (it was a bit longer than expected) I would highly recommend this to anyone who has buddies they talk to online, or anyone that generally enjoys suspenseful films. Not to be outdone by the young star, Patrick Wilson gave an excellent performance. The whole movie was a twisted roller coaster of not knowing who to believe. Whether young Hayley was telling the truth, or was she in fact just completely insane, you won't find out until the end, but either way, it was a knockout performance by both stars and a highly recommended film!

Little sweetheart

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 19 July 2014]

In Hard Candy, Patrick Wilson plays Jeff a photographer who meets a smart 14 year old girl, Hayley (Ellen Page) in an internet chat room and sets up a date.

They seem to share a similar taste in music such as Goldfrapp, Coldplay and both seem to be Anglophiles, Monty Python are name checked for example as well as British pop groups.

Jeff is intoxicated when he meets the precocious Hayley and soon takes her to his apartment which is decorated of photos of young models. Hayley mixes some alcoholic drinks and Jeff wakes up tied to a chair as the seemingly underage girl is not what he thinks she is.

Ellen is looking for the abductor of her friend and has been stalking Jeff for a while with cat and mouse games and confronts Jeff directly with his peadophilia.

Wilson plays an almost early 30s nice guy but lurking inside him is a monster. He is so plausible and nice when he is interested only in deflowering underage girls and maybe even worse.

Page has the hard act of playing an innocent girl and tough avenger who wants to unmask Jeff, show him his true self and find out what happened to her friend. The film is intriguing, interesting, uncomfortable and tense. Some parts might be over the top but its a film that should not be ignored.

I have never craved the sweet escape of death so much in my life

[Nirak_the_Destructor · 1/10 · 12 April 2007]

Pardon me if that sounded emo, but this movie killed me a little bit on the inside. I ached every time I thought about it over the next couple of weeks. I was really excited to see Hard Candy at first. I thought it looked neat. I liked the cover, and the synopsis on the back intrigued me. So, like a fool, I rented it.

Oh my God. What happened to character development? They made the effort with Jeff. They had him tell one story about his past. One. It wasn't much, but it was enough that I grew to like him, just a little bit. Unfortunately, it shouldn't have been Jeff that I was growing to like, and, possibly, love. It should have been Hayley. Here's this little psychotic girl who's running around drugging pedophiles so she can kill them and saying, "I am every little girl you've ever touched!" over and over again. She was a total pain in the ass. I wanted her to die. I wanted Jeff to break free, kill her, and then go get some therapy to help him quit having sex with children. That shouldn't have been the case. I should have been on Hayley's side, which I would have been if she'd actually had a past that allowed me to empathize with her motives.

I sat through the whole movie because I truly believed that somewhere in the film a real plot would emerge, or some characters would start to develop, or someone would cut out Hayley's tongue so she would finally shut up.

I loathed this movie. I have to leave for school now, but trust me, if I had time, I could go into so much more detail. This movie sucked.

Very difficult to like

[Phil_Chester · 27 December 2019]

This is a very difficult film to like. It deals with tricky issues, features some committed performances, but ends up adding up to less than the sum of its parts. Overall, not worth sitting through.

Starts well, ends in absurdity

[tworollsbeatone · 6/10 · 4 December 2006]

This film has an excellent beginning, thrusting you in the middle of a very uncomfortable situation between a thirty two year old man and a fourteen year old girl. The director keeps you squirming without ever crossing over to crassness.

The acting is excellent with both Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page carrying their parts well.

However, the believability bottoms out suddenly as the characters start making stereotypical slasher film decisions (not that this is a slasher film) and the ending feels like it was pieced together on the last day. My guess would be budgeting problems, but I've never seen a film start off so strong and end so weak.

A Tightly Written, Directed and Acted Controversial Thriller

[gradyharp · 10/10 · 20 September 2006]

HARD CANDY is one of those films that took enormous courage on the part of the writer (Brian Nelson), director (David Slade), and producers - let alone the actors - to bring a tale of pedophilia to the mainstream audience. Made for a small budget (yet the production values are so very artistic that it feels like an expensive film), HARD CANDY is essentially a duet for two actors: the actors Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson deliver performances that become indelibly burned on the mind of the viewer.

32-year old photographer Jeff has been chatting online with 14-year old Haley for three weeks using standard chat room seduction lines. They meet, talk, seem to get along well - until Haley invites herself to Jeff's home, much against Jeff's better judgment. Once home the beautiful space in which Jeff lives (the set decor is splendid, using sensitive colors in a cinematic way), the walls adorned with photographs of young models, seems a fitting space for a fine photographer. But soon the twist of the story explodes and Haley lets Jeff know that she is there to punish him for his pedophilia and for some specific events in his history. She drugs him, and when he awakens Jeff is the captive, forced to undergo the intensive questioning and innuendos from Haley, including being set up for castration. The tension mounts to a peak as the two characters uncover aspects of each other; the final resolution of the long encounter comes as a stunning surprise.

The quality of the film is so fine that no judgments are made: is Jeff truly a criminal pedophile?, is Haley insane?, can this reversal of roles happen? The script is so beautifully written that it remains intelligent and straight, forcing the viewer to become involved in the quest for truth. Ellen Page delivers a brilliant performance as Haley and Patrick Wilson steps out of his usual milk toast roles to create a man driven by strange needs who gradually comes to a point of self acceptance in one of the more powerful scenes of film this viewer has seen.

The audience for this examination of pedophilia may be small and therein lies the pity. This is a film that deals with a tough subject so very well that the viewer gains an understanding into dysfunctional characteristics while being caught up in a suspenseful thriller of a story. This is independent film making at its best.

Sick Girl

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 20 April 2007]

After three weeks chatting with the thirty-two years old photographer Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson) in Internet, the fourteen years old Hayley Stark (Ellen Page) meets him in the Nighthawks coffee shop. Hayley flirts with him in spite of the difference of ages and proposes to go to his house. Once there, she prepares screwdriver for them and Jeff passes out. When he awakes, he is tied up to a chair, and Hayley accuses him of pedophilia. Jeff denies, and Hayley begin to torture him, in a mouse and cat game.

"Hard Candy" is an unpleasant story very similar to Roman Polanski's "Death and the Maiden", only the motives are different, political versus pedophilia. This film is well acted, and both Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson are superb in their performances. However, the sick and deranged Hayley Stark is a vile, no matter how despicable Jeff Kohlver might be. In "Death and the Maiden", the character of Sigourney Weaver was a political activist that was tortured by the character of Ben Kingsley, therefore the viewer is able to accept her revenge. But in "hard Candy", Hayley Stark is sicker than Jeff Kohlver and it is impossible to feel any sympathy for her character. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Garota Má.com" ("Bad Girl.com")

This film will make you uncomfortable....very, very uncomfortable.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 31 July 2016]

When the film begins, a pedophile is chatting with a very young looking girl, Hayley (Ellen Page). Soon, she agrees to meet him at a coffee house and the guy is super-creepy as he pretends to care about the girl and her interests. Soon, he's convinced her to come home with him and you can only assume he's going to molest Hayley. However, Jeff (Patrick Wilson) soon learns that while he thinks he's in control and will be raping the girl, he's soon drugged, trussed up and being physically and emotionally tormented by Hayley. Surprisingly, this makes up at least 80% of the film...80% where this older than her years girl torments Jeff and makes him wish he was dead, as death would be easier than dealing with Hayley and her 'games'.

This is a super difficult film to watch and I strongly advise you to think twice before you watch it because of the subject matter. If you've been a victim of sexual abuse, I could easily see the film's content bringing up horrible flashbacks...same with anyone who has been tortured. It cannot help but push the viewer's buttons. Additionally, many who haven't been through this might also want to beg off watching this one...it IS intense and often hard to watch. It is NOT a film for the squeamish. However, despite these warnings, the film is able to balance physical violence...not showing too much and often leaving the worst of it to your imagination.

My only reservations about the film, other than the violence, is that I would have loved to know more about Hayley--especially since she doesn't talk or act like the 14 year-old she's supposed to be in the film. She's more like a 20-something with her clever puns and verbal dexterity. Plus, WHAT IS HER MOTIVATION? While none of this ruins the film in any way, it does leave you wondering.

For the right audience, this film is exquisitely made and worth seeing. Also, I was surprised with the film as there was a line about Roman Polanski. While he IS a convicted child rapist, so often Hollywood has somehow excused this...but "Hard Candy" certainly doesn't!

Gritty and traumatic; one of the best films in years!

[The_Void · 7/10 · 4 October 2006]

Hard Candy takes an idea that has become the subject of a million warnings since the introduction of the internet, and turns it on its head. The film is extremely brave in the way that the subject matter is handled, and it constantly tackles unpleasant themes head on. I really don't associate this type of film with modern cinema, and so Hard Candy deserves high praise for daring to go where so many films these days dare not. Unfortunately, the story doesn't quite come together as well as it could have done, but it is difficult to juggle so many themes and what we do have here is a tense and traumatic film that brilliantly gets the audience into the heads of both of the main characters. The film begins by showing an internet conversation in which two people - a teenage girl and an older man - agree to meet in a café. The girl comes on strong, and she ends up inviting herself back to the man's apartment after he tells her that he has an mp3 from a Goldfrapp concert. However, the girl has an ulterior motive, and pretty soon their traditional roles are reversed as she takes control of the situation.

The way that director David Slade builds tension is extremely impressive, and the central set-piece is likely to result in a lot of chewed fingernails and ground down teeth in audience members. The focus on the characters and their actions become rather skewed during this period and I actually found myself feeling sorry for the paedophile. This may well be the point of the film, however; as several things are left wide open, leaving the audience members to make their mind up about which actions are right, and Hard Candy definitely succeeds in making its audience members think. Of course, it would be practically impossible for the director to put a slant on the film that would completely satisfy everyone, but what we do have here is a film that makes a point in a way that is a lot more poignant than many more critically acclaimed films. As a thriller, the film works extremely well also; as mentioned, Hard Candy is extremely gripping at its best moments, and I don't think I've completely 'gotten into' a modern film this much for some time. I can't say this film is for everyone; but Hard Candy is very nearly a complete success, and I recommend everyone at least give it a go.

Absolutely fantastic!

[sleepysnail · 10/10 · 12 April 2006]

I saw this film last night at a free showing and was completely blown away. I didn't expect it to be anything more than a clichéd murder story. How wrong I was! The story moves along at a gripping pace, the cinematography is beautiful (simple and complex simultaneously. A perfect balance.) The acting is very believable. I think anyone would enjoy this film, as the audience I saw it with was a mixture of people from a number of different socioeconomic backgrounds and everyone seemed to like what they saw. The only aspect of the film that worries me is that the main character is going to be viewed as a sort of embodiment of an angry, man hating feminist, rather than a girl who is on a mission to erase the horrors of pedophilia. The people I saw it with agreed that they were nervous that the film will only reinforce cultural attitudes about feminist as man hating, psycho bitches, which is simply a generalization. But remove that possible attitude towards the film and it is quite good. I really enjoyed it. Thumbs up.

I enjoyed this more in 2006 when I used to drink.

[VeganVag · 6/10 · 31 January 2021]

But this time, sober & retired, it just didn't make sense, her having the strength of a grown man handling dead weight TWICE?! lol! All I could think throughout this was "put a sock in his damn mouth!" but he should have been on the floor tied up most of the time with handcups she already had in her backpack, and still doomed up.

And why not cut off his peen, dang it?!

This would have been a slam dunk if those simple acts had occurred, along with "who the fck are you?" would have helped to know that too.

Thanks!

See it. . . see it NOW!

[skippy_the_nazgul · 9/10 · 2 April 2006]

I saw the trailer for Hard Candy when I went to see Hostel (which sucked, but we'll not get into that). I was immediately drawn to it. It's suppose to come out April 14th but it came through with the Central Florida Film Festival two weeks early. I could have waited and paid less and got a better seat, but oh my god, even with a crap view I was blown away.

The cinematography was masterful, the acting was spectacular, the dialogue was a little awkward in pints but never really faltered, and the plot! You would think a movie consisting of 2 characters in a house would have it moments of tediousness, but not at all. So many psychological thrills it will set your mind a boggling.

disturbing with good performances

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 7 December 2015]

Fourteen year old Hayley Stark (Ellen Page) meets photographer Jeff Kohlver (Patrick Wilson) at a coffee shop after some time chatting online. She's flirtatious and he takes her home. She makes them drinks and Jeff tries to get her to pose for him. Jeff has been drugged and passes out. He's tied up as Hayley accuses him of being a pedophile. She finds pictures of missing girl Donna Mauer. Judy Tokuda (Sandra Oh) is the next door neighbor.

This is a disturbing movie. It's creepy at the beginning and then it flips the script on the audience. Page and Wilson are essentially in a two person play. Page is very engaging and Wilson is great. The middle is stretched out a little with the exception of the insane castration scene. Wilson really earns his pay. There is a need for a ticking clock to heighten the tension. Maybe a maid is scheduled to come. The tension isn't at its highest without the structure. This is an unique crazy memorable movie.

Why are so many bad movies rated so highly on IMDb?

[burnt_orange_zombie · 1/10 · 31 January 2007]

Read any of the myriad of one star reviews on this film to see how I feel about it.

What's puzzling to me is how many people can honestly like something that is so bad? And its not the whole sex abuser versus torture thing. I don't care about the debate of whether she was right or wrong--that only justifies the filmmakers attempt to make it "controversial." Its the fact that the dialog is awful, and clichéd. That pretty quickly a 14-year old girl disappears and instead becomes the screenwriter's narration, which is didactic and preachy, and a tad bit condescending.

A 14-year old girl could never haul around the dead weight of an adult male, or female for that matter. The kick in the head he gives her would have left her dazed for much longer than what happens. When he rammed his chair against her pinning her against the wall, repeatedly, it would have incapacitated her pretty severely. Of course, the consequence of that would have been her passing out while he dies from saran wrap asphyxiation.

And all her rope tying and again, moving what has to be at least a 175lbs all over the place like its nothing is something most adult men couldn't do, much less a 14-year old girl.

It goes on and on. She talks him into committing suicide? What? And he buys into it? This movie is awful for many reasons, but the main one is that is simply stupid. And worse, its predictable. We know in advance that every escape attempt he makes will be thwarted. Why? Well, because its too early in the film for him to escape. So why even draft that, Mr. Screenwriter of Crap? We know when he picks up the gun that he won't kill her. Because your pretension is unfortunately not only sloppy in its failure to cover galaxy sized holes, its also predictable. And predictable is boring.

And to the IMDb reviewers, can you please quit writing that the acting is good even if you hate the plot. The acting is not good. At all. This thing stinks to high heaven. The color scheme came from one of those home design television shows you see on the tube.

Oh, and another little annoyance--anyone notice how the bar he picks her up in has the exact same walls as his home? I checked in the trivia, and it is because apparently it was filmed in the same place. Wow, nice job of hiding that. "not." Anyone who recommends this movie is not your friend and should not be trusted for any opinions on movies as they are morons. Which unfortunately appears to be a really big chunk of the IMDb reviewers.